Software Engineer, Hardware Enablement

Modular; United States; On-site; USD 198,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premier insurance plans

401k matching (up to 5%)

Flexible paid time off

Stock options

Job summary

Modular is seeking an experienced engineer to enhance the Modular software stack by implementing support for novel hardware architectures. This role requires proficiency in C++ and experience in high-performance computing. You'll work closely with external hardware partners and develop expertise in new architectures. The position offers hybrid work arrangements in the United States, competitive compensation, and world-class benefits, making it ideal for tech enthusiasts passionate about AI.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in high-performance computing, compiler engineering, or related domains.
• Familiarity with low-level AI operator implementations.
• Proficiency in C++ and experience in complex software systems.

Responsibilities

• Implement support for new hardware architectures across the Modular stack.
• Write and optimize Mojo kernels targeting novel accelerator architectures.
• Collaborate with hardware vendor engineers on integration tests.

Skills

High-performance computing

Compiler engineering

C++

Heterogeneous programming models (CUDA, SYCL, OpenCL)

AI operator implementation

Team-oriented attitude

Education

5+ years of experience in relevant fields

Tools

PyTorch

MLIR

LLVM

Job description

About Modular

At Modular, we’re on a mission to revolutionize AI infrastructure by systematically rebuilding the AI software stack from the ground up. Our team, made up of industry leaders and experts, is building cutting‑edge, modular infrastructure that simplifies AI development and deployment. By rethinking the complexities of AI systems, we’re empowering everyone to unlock AI’s full potential and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of AI and creating tools that make a real difference in people’s lives, we want you on our team. You can read about our culture and careers to understand how we work and what we value.

About The Role

ML developers today face significant friction in taking trained models into deployment. They work in a highly fragmented space, with incomplete and patchwork solutions that require significant performance tuning and non‑generalisable, model‑specific enhancements. At Modular, we are building the next generation AI platform that will radically improve the way developers build and deploy AI models. As part of our mission to build AI's unified compute layer, we are expanding the Modular software stack to a variety of new and exciting hardware platforms. We are looking for a motivated engineer to join the Hardware Enablement team at Modular.

In this role you will work across the Modular software stack — from Mojo kernels and the graph compiler to MAX model serving — to bring up and optimise support for new accelerator platforms. You’ll collaborate closely with internal teams and external hardware partners, and you’ll develop deep expertise in novel architectures while contributing to our portability story.

Location

We welcome candidates who are based in and have work authorization in the United Kingdom, Norway, or the United States (Eastern Time Zone). To support growth and collaboration, those in earlier career stages work in a hybrid capacity at our Edinburgh, UK or Boston, MA office (minimum 2 days per week on site). Onboarding for new hires is conducted in person.

What You Will Do

• Implement and validate support for new hardware architectures across the Modular stack, working under the guidance of senior engineers on the team
• Write and optimise Mojo kernels targeting novel accelerator architectures, with a focus on correctness first and performance iteration
• Contribute to cross‑team efforts improving portability infrastructure, tooling, and debugging workflows for new target hardware
• Collaborate with hardware vendor engineers to understand target platforms, build integration tests, and triage platform‑specific issues
• Develop working knowledge of new hardware platforms — including ISA documentation, memory hierarchies, and vendor toolchains — and share findings with the team through demos and write‑ups
• Participate in company events such as on‑sites and hackathons, contributing to a collaborative and open engineering culture

What You Bring To The Table

• 5+ years of experience in high‑performance computing, compiler engineering, or related domains in industry or research
• Familiarity with how AI operators are implemented at a low level (e.g., experience writing or modifying GPU kernels, custom operators, or working with frameworks like PyTorch at the C++ layer)
• Proficiency in C++ and experience working in complex, multi‑component software systems
• Hands‑on experience with at least one heterogeneous programming model (CUDA, SYCL, OpenCL, or similar), either as a user or contributor
• Some exposure to non‑GPU accelerator architectures (DSPs, NPUs, or other hardware accelerators) is a strong plus
• Curiosity and willingness to learn new hardware platforms quickly, comfortable reading architecture manuals and vendor documentation
• A collaborative, team‑oriented attitude and alignment with our culture

Helpful, But Not Required

• Experience with GPU DSLs/DSELs such as Triton, CUTLASS, or CuTe
• Familiarity with MLIR or LLVM compiler infrastructure
• Experience working directly with hardware vendor teams or on platform bring‑up efforts
• Exposure to model serving or inference optimisation workflows

What Modular Brings To The Table

• Amazing Team. We are a progressive and agile team with some of the industry’s best engineering and product leaders.
• World‑class Benefits. In order to attract the best, we need to offer the best. Premier insurance plans, up to 5% 401k matching, flexible paid time off, and more are available to you! Please note that specific benefit packages may vary based on your location.
• Competitive Compensation. We offer very strong compensation packages, including stock options. We want people to be focused on their best work and believe in tailoring compensation plans to meet the needs of our workforce.
• Team Building Events. We organise regular team on‑sites and local meet‑ups in Los Altos, CA as well as different cities. Traveling 2‑4 times a year is expected for all roles.

Working at Modular will enable you to grow quickly as you work alongside incredibly motivated and talented people who have high standards, possess a growth mindset, and a purpose to truly change the world.

The estimated base salary range for this role to be performed in the United States is $198,000 - $242,000 USD.